Sponge and squeegee cleaner



Oct. 23, 1951 J. T. COPPE SPONGE AND SQUEEGEE CLEANER Filed Feb. 23, 1946 H10 (f4 L? fzgderzz.'

m gap/0@ Patented ct. 23, '1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEv SPONGE AND SQUEEGEE CLEANER Jerome T. Coppe, Chicago, Ill.'

Application February 23, 1946, Serial No. 649,473

(cl. -121) I i 1 Claim. l This invention relates to a cleaning device and is particularly useful as a cleaner for windows and similar surfaces.

In the cleaning of windows it is extremely diiiicult and Virtually impossible to clean certain window areas without being on the outside of the window. The operation is not only an unpleasant one in cold and disagreeable weather, but it is hazardous when one is obliged to stand outside the window or sit upon the window sill. Further, the top window frame very often sticks and can be moved only with great diiculty.

An object of the present invention is to provide simple means for the cleaning of all of the surfaces of the windows while permitting one to stand inside the room. A further object is to provide a cleaning device which may be manipulated from inside the room for cleaning all of the surfaces of the windows while supplying at the same time means for removing the liquid from the windows and drying the same. A further object of the invention is to provide a cleaning device effective for supplying a washing fluid to window surfaces on the outside of a room while, at the same time, providing means for displacing the liquid from the surface and drying the window surface. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a window end in which a cleaning device embodying my invention is employed; Fig. 2, a broken plan I view of the sponge and squeegee structure `employed with my washing device; Fig. 3, a transverse sectional view, the section being taken as indica-ted at line 3 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 4, a perspective View of a sponge structure attached to a plate insert,

In the illustration given, Ill kdesignates a handle which may be of metal or other suitable material and whi-ch may be equipped with a loop handle II. The upper end of the handle II! is offset at I2 and is secured to a metal back strip or plate I3. The plate I3 is turned inwardly and upwardly at its bottom to provide a loop I4 for receiving the sponge plate I5. The upper end of the back plate I3 is provided with va downwardly turned portion I6 which also provides a loop for receiving the plate I5. The metal strip IB is also turned upwardly again upon itself to form a second loop portion Il for receiving the squeegee or resilient edge I8.

I9 formed of porous rubber or any other suitable absorbent material. An excellent bond between the sponge I9 and plate I5 is provided by rubber cement, but other suitable adhesives may be employed.

-The handle I0 may be secured to the back plate I3 by rivets 20 or any other desired means.

In the construction illustrated, it will be noted that the handle I0 is substantially in line with the back plate I3 and that the metal parts thus associated with the sponge I9 Iand squeegee I 8 lie in a relatively narrow longitudinal plane. Thus, it is easy to project the metal structure between small crevices or spaces to permit its use in the interiors between windows, etc. While the sponge I9 and squeegee I8 project slightly, these will be compressed when it is desired to insert the device in a narrow space and thus they form no obstructions to such passage.

The use of the device in connection with the cleaning of windows is illustrated in Fig. 1. In this figure, 2I designates the upper window frame and 22 itspane, and 23 designates the lower window frame, whose pane is designated by the numeral 24. The upper portion 25 of the lower window frame has an inwardly extending sealing portion 26. Similarly, the outer window frame 2I has its lower portion 21 provided with the usual inwardly extending seal 28. When the mem-bers 26 and 28 are brought together, as shown, lowering the inner frame 23, the two members provide a substantially air-tight seal between the windows.

In the illustration given in Fig. 1, the upper window 2| is shown in its usual position, but the lower window frame 23 has been raised. When the lower frame 23 is moved to the raised position indicated in-Fig. 1, the washing device carried by handle I0 can be readily inserted between the window frames and employed for washing the outer side of the lower window pane, as i1- lustrated. Normally, it is better to have the lower window frame 23 in the raised position indicated in Fig. 1 or, if desired, an even lower position may be maintained and, in such position, the washing device can be easily caused to traverse the entire outer space of the pane 24.

The diflicult task in window washing is to clean the outside surface of the lower pane 24 and in order to clean this surface, it is customary to either wash it while standing on the outside or while sitting on the window sill. With the construction shown, one can stand entirely within the room and eiectively clean this dif- I9 is filled with water or washing uid, it may z' be moved over the entire outer surface of the pane 24 so as to scrub the surface. After this washing operation, the rigid back I3, under stress imposed by the handle I0, may be urged against,

the sponge I9 so as to press the Water' from the sponge. the water from the outer surface of pane 24 and las it does so, a porous pad I9- soaks upthewater stream thus produced. The device is, therefore,A

effective4 not only. as a washing pad,bu t alsoas a squeegee and blotter of the water, the rigid baci;Y

plate I3 serving the useful function of wringing the pad of its moisture when it is desired-to use it in the final drying step.-

The long handle "I0 enables substantial pressure to be applied to the cleaning device at any point upon the window pane and even while the device is within the compartment `between the two window .panes. It provides a .control means for Washing Jthe window withthe desired pressure on the pad I9 `and the `furtheradditional` pressure for wringing thepad I9 of most of its ,5; water to render it effective as a `blotter or drying Y means when the squeegee is; serving to wring the water from the pane surface.

The new cleaner is not only built ina compact and aligned arrangement whereby it .can be Ainserted between. window frames and rmanipulated therebetween but also, the vcleaning device contains in itself all of Ythe essentials for washing, for removing water from the paneanc for soaking up the water thus dislodged. Thus a complete cleaning operation can be brought. about by the insertion of the `cleaning .device .but once through the space between-window frames.k

It will be understood vthat .the cleaner is ef fective as a means for cleaning oors,.walls, cars and other surfaces.

The handle I0,Ywhich maybe formed of metal.` or other resilient material and which is provided".

with a looped handle II, is foundto be very effective as g-a means .forapplyingpressure upon the ,spongeA even whenthe sponge is at a remote point., Further,v the longshankof thehandle enables handletohe pressed against the por--` The squeegee is then caused to. ,wring`r tion 28 of the upper window frame so as to use it as a lever for applying pressure toward the pane 24. The handle permits a nice control of the pad I9 so that it can serve as a washing means and further as an effective means for wringing the pad I9 so that it may serve as an absorbent member.

While in the foregoing specification, I have set forth one embodiment of the inveniton in detail, it v-will be understood that such details may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

A window .pane cleaner, comprising a plate having an outer end portion adapted to hold a squeegee and an inner edge portion opposite said squeegeeyholding end, an elongated handle secured tothe back of the plate and provided with an offset engaging the inner edge portion of said plate and extending to the rear of said plate in substantially longitudinal alignment therewith,

a resilient squeegee secured vto the outer endof said plate and with the edgethereof inclined',` awayvfrom said plate and outwardly therefrom,"

anda sponge body having itsv rear surface secured to said plate yand its front surface alignedl withthe outer edge portion of said squeegee, said squeegee extending outwardly from said plate so asto yield in a rearward direction when said Y sponge structure is pressed against .a windowA pane surface` to free said sponge of liquid, said squeegee having at its outer tip an edge pointed incross-section for bearing against the window pane to free the pane of water.

JEROME T. COPPE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe le ofY this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

